This community opinion was contributed by San Benito County resident, Daniel Camacho. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. Lea este artículo en español aqui.

At a time when California is grappling with rising energy costs, increasing demand and ongoing reliability concerns, San Benito County should be leaning into solutions—not dismissing them.

Yet that is exactly what we are seeing from Ignacio Velazquez, who has publicly criticized utility-scale solar projects, even suggesting that clean energy is a “joke.”

That kind of rhetoric may generate headlines but it does not solve real problems facing San Benito County residents.

Solar is now a core part of California’s energy system. It allows power generated during the day to be stored and delivered when demand is highest—reducing reliance on fossil fuels and helping prevent outages. This is not theory; it is how the grid is being stabilized across the state.

The stakes for local residents are not abstract. They show up every month in utility bills and every summer when grid reliability is tested. By opposing solar projects and supporting a moratorium on clean energy development, County leadership is making choices that have direct consequences:

  • Higher long-term energy costs by limiting local supply and infrastructure.  
  • Reduced grid reliability, increasing exposure to outages and peak pricing.
  • Lost local revenue, including property taxes and economic activity tied to construction and operations.
  • Missed opportunities for landowners who rely on project leases for stable income.

These are not hypothetical tradeoffs—they are real impacts that affect families, businesses and the County’s fiscal health.

Supervisor Velazquez has every right to question projects and demand strong standards. That is part of the job. But dismissing an entire category of infrastructure without offering a viable alternative is not leadership—it is avoidance.

If the position is to reject clean energy projects outright, then residents deserve a clear answer to a simple question: what is the plan to meet future energy demand, control costs, and maintain reliability?

So far, no such plan has been presented by Supervisor Velazquez.

Instead, Velazquez has imposed a blanket moratorium that creates uncertainty, discourages investment and signals that San Benito County is not open to participating in California’s energy future. That decision does not just affect clean energy—it affects the County’s competitiveness, its tax base and its ability to attract responsible investment.

Solar projects are not without impacts and they should be reviewed carefully. But counties across California have shown that it is possible to adopt clear standards that address land use, safety and community concerns while still allowing these projects to move forward.

San Benito County should be doing the same.

At the end of the day, this is about accountability. Decisions made at the County level have real consequences for residents. When those decisions lead to higher costs, fewer opportunities, and greater uncertainty, it is fair—and necessary—for the public to ask whether those choices are serving the community’s best interests.

San Benito County deserves leadership that engages seriously with the challenges ahead and is willing to pursue practical solutions—not dismiss them, as Supervisor Velazquez has.

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